Episode 30: Rumble Tumble Second World Expedition

The next day, something completely unexpected happened.

Aran Seol-nim fell ill.

She was down with a fever, no less.

Even my holy magic had no effect.

Either it was too severe for my holy magic to heal, or what was happening to Aran Seol-nim’s body was a natural reaction.

At least, it didn’t seem to be a deficiency in my holy magic.

Even with my holy magic, there should have been some improvement.

Considering I’d been trying to heal Aran Seol-nim for nearly an hour without any progress, the latter seemed more likely.

“That quack old geezer better go get that 1,000 gold right now!”

What the hell did he feed her?

Aran Seol-nim trusted me and ate that mystical elixir.

This was my responsibility.

“Ha, Lua.”

Just then, Aran Seol-nim called out to me with a completely hoarse voice.

“I’m okay, I am.”

How could she say she was okay in this state?

She’s such a damn good kid.

“Just rest. I’ll get some more water.”

Aran Seol-nim had started getting sick since dawn.

So, I had been nursing her ever since I woke up in the middle of the night.

I asked the innkeeper for a wet towel, so I decided to bring some more.

“I’m okay, I am.”

Then, Aran Seol-nim shook her head.

“Time, it’s almost time.”

As she said, it was almost the time I had promised with Babiyen and Horizon.

“That can wait.”

Aran Seol-nim came first before any pioneer work.

“Next month, that, merchant comes, again.”

Aran Seol-nim looked up at me with her eyes barely open.

“Don’t, worry. That person is, real.”

Was she feeling the effects of the mystical elixir?

I stared at Aran Seol-nim for a moment, then sighed and got up from my seat.

I knew from experience that Aran Seol-nim was as stubborn as I was.

“Alright. I’ll ask the innkeeper to check on you regularly. I need to tell those two about the situation anyway, whether we go or not.”

Aran Seol-nim closed her eyes as if that was enough.

She started to fall into a deep sleep, breathing heavily.

She couldn’t sleep a wink when her fever was spiking at dawn, but it seemed a little better now.

I didn’t want to disturb Aran Seol-nim while she was sleeping, so I went outside and headed to the Pioneer Association.

The Pioneer Association was bustling with activity from the morning.

It varies by region, but in the capital Valterion, the Second World’s morning dawns around this time.

So, everyone had gathered to enter the Second World as it turned morning there.

“Ugh, those Dark Elves on the other side of the world must be having their evening by now. Why are we the only ones getting tired from the morning?”

“Hey now, the reason Dark Elves settled in that region is because they’re nocturnal. It’s morning for them.”

I opened the association door, listening to the pioneers’ pointless chatter.

Then, I saw Babiyen, who had arrived early in the morning.

She wasn’t paying attention to anyone, but when she met my eyes, she frowned.

What’s the point of looking at your teammate like that?

I should spank her ass.

“What is it? Where’s Aran Seol-nim?”

“Something came up. She can’t come with us.”

“What did you say?”

Babiyen opened her mouth as if to say, ‘What are you talking about?’

But what could I do? It was the truth.

Babiyen expressed her distress.

Aran Seol-nim, who was supposed to be in charge of the vanguard, was absent.

No matter what, we couldn’t go to the Second World without a vanguard.

“What are we going to do?”

When Babiyen asked, I also pressed the back of my neck.

I was wondering what to do since things had turned out this way.

“I’m, I’m sorry I’m late!”

Just then, Horizon appeared.

Horizon rushed over here, and I could tell why she was late from her running.

It would be impossible to run fast with those things bouncing around.

“No, we just got here too.”

“Oh, that’s, that’s good. Oh, but where is Aran Seol-ssi?”

I told Horizon that she couldn’t come due to circumstances.

Then, a sigh escaped from Horizon as well.

“……Is it my fault?”

Gloomy feelings settled on her face.

Unlucky Cow.

It must be a nickname Horizon herself knows.

I smiled bitterly as I watched her blame herself.

I don’t see how it’s her fault.

“Huh? Oh, Holy Magic User-nareuri.”

While we were wondering what to do, a familiar voice was heard.

There was a gnome with only simple luggage.

He was one of the members of the team I had talked to yesterday.

“Running into you from the morning. You’re diligent.”

“Pingle, you moron, what are you strutting around for when you’re late?”

Soon after, a dwarf walked out from inside and spoke.

The gnome Pingle chuckled, telling him to relax, but when the other two came out, he changed his attitude.

“Ahem, hmm, I was late.”

“You’re a friend of Bulldog-ssi, whom we saw yesterday.”

The man didn’t pay attention to Pingle and spoke to me.

Then, he quickly assessed our situation and looked around.

“Are you missing a team member?”

“Yes, something came up.”

He tapped his chin for a moment.

It seemed to be a habit he had when he was thinking.

Then, as if he had come to a conclusion, he made a suggestion.

“Then, would you like to come with us?”

“Kalen?”

The female pioneer showed a surprised reaction.

It was a reaction that she didn’t expect Kalen to bring in a new party member.

“There’s a mage, a holy mage, and a Dark Shadow race. As the Second World becomes more unstable, it’s not a bad idea.”

The more people there are, the less likely they are to be attacked.

Moreover, a mage and a holy mage are valuable assets.

Kalen’s suggestion was a proposal that they had nothing to lose.

“What do you think? I think it’s a proposal that you have nothing to lose either.”

Kalen smiled gently.

He was used to putting on a friendly smile.

Kalen’s team has been active since Bulldog Ajusshi’s time.

Since they have been maintained as this team since then, it means that their teamwork is good and they are consistently achieving results.

Not as good as Bulldog Ajusshi, but they are a veteran team.

On the other hand, we have a novice, Babiyen.

No matter how skilled she is, it’s her first time in the Second World, so she’s bound to make mistakes.

It wouldn’t be bad to experience a veteran team.

“I’m in favor, but what about Babiyen and Horizon-ssi?”

“We have no choice. We can’t just not go when we’ve come all this way.”

“I, I’m fine with it!”

Pingle glanced at Horizon.

Gnomes are sensitive to rumors.

However, he didn’t say anything more.

It was proof that Kalen was managing his team well as the leader.

He got permission from both team members.

There was no need to hold back any longer.

“I look forward to this expedition.”

“I’m the one who should be saying that.”

Kalen and I shook hands, forming a new team.

A team of uncivilized otherworlders and a returnee.

* * *

Second World, Urzea.

It is another world connected to the First World, Astrape.

The main inhabitants of the Second World are mythical creatures.

They have built their own ecosystems and are constantly fighting for survival.

The magic stones and resources they possess are very useful and many are high-priced.

That’s why pioneers desperately head to the Second World to hunt mythical creatures.

The location of the entrance to the Second World changes roughly every month.

Therefore, those who have committed irreparable crimes often flee in time for the changing of the Second World’s time.

However, that is not a good choice.

The changing of the entrance also means that the location of the exit changes.

The Second World is not a suitable world for humans to live in.

In particular, the problem of food is particularly significant.

Mythical creatures can be used as medicinal ingredients, but it is almost impossible to eat them raw without any processing.

Even the spring water is infested with vicious parasitic mythical creatures.

If you were to film a survival show in such a place, you would eventually become food for the mythical creatures or starve to death.

Therefore, fleeing to the Second World was a decision made by only a very small number of criminals.

This time, the location is Moss Flower Cave.

It is an endlessly long maze cave with more moss than cave walls.

The most important thing in Moss Flower Cave is the scout.

It’s obvious, as you’ll never be able to return if you get lost.

Fortunately, our team currently has two scouts.

Horizon and the gnome, Pingle.

“Alright, this way. Let’s hurry.”

Pingle quickly guided the way.

He seemed familiar with Moss Flower Cave and was fearless in setting out.

“Oh, th-there, here, here is.”

On the other hand, Horizon was always flustered.

Horizon is originally timid.

Since Pingle was taking the lead ahead of her, she seemed to be stumbling more in finding the way.

“Moss Flower Cave doesn’t have wide paths, so it’s okay to take turns scouting.

How about Horizon-ssi rests for a bit and then replaces Pingle when he gets tired?”

Kalen looked at me rather than Horizon as he asked.

He must have recognized us as a separate team, even though we were on the same team.

“Let’s do that. Horizon-ssi, let’s rest for a bit and then switch.”

“Ah, y-yes.”

Horizon became a little dejected.

She seemed to have more pride in her scouting work than I thought.

So, I quietly approached Horizon and whispered to her.

“But still, I feel a little uneasy, so please keep checking the path. Horizon-ssi is our team’s scout, after all.”

“Ah, yes!”

Horizon’s face brightened up quickly.

I’ve gained experience in taking care of team members like this while working as a pioneer.

Kalen must have heard it since he wasn’t far away, but he didn’t point it out.

It must mean that he thought it was the right thing to do.

“Ugh, it’s damp, sticky, and disgusting. Really.”

Meanwhile, Babiyen didn’t stop complaining.

That cursed mouth of hers never rests.

So, I poked her in the side.

“Kyaeugak!”

She makes all sorts of strange noises.

Everyone turned to look at Babiyen with surprised eyes, and she turned to look at me with a face that was flushed red.

Her eyes were blazing as if she was about to shoot fire magic at any moment.

“Even though she looks like that, scouts have a lot to focus on. You might miss something because of your complaining, so stop it.”

Babiyen glanced at Pingle.

Pingle was fearlessly groping the mossy walls to check the path.

“……You could have just said it. With words. The young lady is sensitive on her sides, so don’t poke me again.”

I learned something good.

From now on, I’ll only target Babiyen’s sides.

“Wait.”

Just then, Pingle, who was moving forward, stopped.

Kalen also immediately drew his sword and stopped everyone.

He checked something and then inhaled sharply.

“This is a little troublesome.”

“Pingle, explain the situation first.”

The Second World is a lawless zone where anything can happen.

So, when Kalen urged him, Pingle pointed to the ground.

“There are traces of blood.”

“Did a battle break out between pioneers?”

Or, there is also the possibility that the avengers mentioned earlier attacked the pioneers.

“It’s human blood, that’s right. But there’s something strange about it.”

Pingle also frowned as if he didn’t understand the situation.

“Hey, Unlucky Cow, do you remember how long we’ve been here?”

“1, 11 minutes and 32 seconds.”

Horizon answered more accurately than I thought.

It was as if she had a biological stopwatch.

Pingle nodded as if he was no different.

“Moss Flower Cave is unique in that the location of the entrance changes in real time, so the starting positions of the pioneers are often different.

So, there is a possibility that a battle broke out in 11 minutes. But this doesn’t make sense.”

Pingle pointed to the front of the entrance, and we followed him.

Soon after, everyone’s faces froze.

As Pingle said, this place was a mess as if a battle had taken place.

However, the color of the blood was not the blood that had splattered a little while ago.

In addition, the corpse had also passed some time and was now entering the state of decay.

There are several mythical creatures that act as scavengers.

Even though there are such creatures, the corpse is still there.

In other words, this death did not happen long ago.

But that doesn’t mean it was a short time like 11 minutes either.

A few days ago, before the entrance to the Second World changed to Moss Flower Cave.

Someone was murdered here.

Moreover, in a cave where only mythical creatures should be, without any pioneers.

Then, who is the murdered and who is the murderer?

A criminal who fled to the Second World.

A criminal who survived in this crazy world is wandering around Moss Flower Cave.